Collection

Homer M. Garza (81) was born in Beeville, Texas on May 8, 1933. Garza was raised and later moved to Petronila, Texas (near Corpus Christi). In November of 1948, Garza decided to enlist into the National Guard, two weeks later he transferred into the United States regular army. Garza was first stationed in Japan and assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment and 1st Class Cavalry Division at Camp Drake, Japan. On July 18,, 1950 Garza arrived on the East Coast of South Korea as Private First Class, later retiring Command Sergeant Major. While as a squad leader, Garza was injured twice during his tour, once on August 30,1950 where he was hit three times in his left leg and then again on January 14, 1951, when he was hit in the arm by a Chinese hand grenade. A few months later in May, he departed from Korea and visited home. He remained in the army until he retired in October of 1973. He received many awards including the Combat Infantry Badge, a Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Stars Two with V and one cluster, the Purple Heart, the Gallantry Cross with a Bronze Star, an Army commendation Medal with V and one cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with one cluster, German Army Marksmanship in Bronze, and the Jungle Expert award. Garza said his most memorable moment during the war, was getting the word to go home. Today, he is a member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Don C Faith Chapter 222 in Killeen, Texas, but resides in Harker Heights, Texas with his wife, Hilda C Garza (married in July of 1952). They have one daughter and three sons.
The following are the positions that Garza held:
June 1951-Aug 1952 B Btry 6ht Arty. Fort Sill, OK
Aug 1952 - July 1956 3ht Arty 2NT AD Mannheim, Ger
July 1956- Aug 1958 7ht FA 1st Inf Div Fort Riley, KS
Aug 1958- July 1961 13ht FA 24Inf Div. Augsburg, Ger.
July 1961- Sept 1963 1/33 FA 1st Inf Div. Fort Riley, KS
Sept 1963 -Sept 1964 1st B 333ht Red stone Mil Wackernheim, Ger
Sept 1964 - July 1966 3ht /2ht Arty ( Honest John ) Fort Hood, TX
July 1966 -July 1967 HHB Div Arty 1st AD Fort Hood, TX
July 1967- Dec 1967 V.N Language School, El Paso, TX
Jan 1968- Jan 1969 3/34ht Arty Mobile Riverine,9ht Inf Div. Vietnam
Jan 1969-July 1970 CSM 46ht Inf. BN 1st AD Fort Hood, TX
July 1970- July 1971 CSM 6ht Arty and 77ht Arty Fort Hood ,TX
July 1971 -June 1973 CSM 3/67 ADA 3ht Inf Div. Ger.
June 1973- Oct 1973 Training under VA for Plumbing and AC